Visual hygiene is now more relevant than ever as some of our patients are starting up in ‘virtual’ school. This topic has also been a hot topic among many of my patients spending hours on the computer working from home during this pandemic.
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) – The American Optometric Association defines CVS as a group of eye and vision related problems that result from prolonged computer use. The most common symptoms include:
  • eyestrain
  • dry eye
  • eye irritation
  • headaches
  • blurred vision
  • double vision.
For more information on this condition, please check out: https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/protecting-your-vision/computer-vision-syndrome
Reading in itself is already a challenging task. For more details about the mechanics of reading, come check out our older posts: The Visual Challenges of Reading (Part 1) and (Part 2).
Here are some helpful tips:

Good Posture

Sitting upright (not slouched) to support eye alignment is ideal. Reading material adjusted 20 degrees upward from the work station (you may remember those old writing desks that were slanted).
For kids, I emphasize the need to adjust furniture to the right height especially if kids are small. You can see several adjustments to my daughter’s work station. The work surface is positioned below chest level and a stool is used to support her feet. She tends to curl or cross her legs otherwise and tilt forward.

Good lighting

Natural light is the best! Trying putting the work station near a window. Natural daylight bulbs are next. Fluorescent bulbs provide the least comfort and many of my brain injury patients are especially sensitive to this form of lighting. Ideally the light is positioned to minimize glare from the reading surface.
For screen settings, I recommend the dimmest setting possible and installing programs like FLux (or night filter) which will gradually reduce the blue output towards the evening hours. The same programs can also run on other digital devices like cell phones.

Taking breaks – 20/20/20 rule

Part of visual hygiene includes viewing a 20ft target for at least 20s for every 20 minutes of near/intermittent tasking. This reduces spasm and load for your focusing or accommodative system. Also remember to blink! Research indicates that people engaged in computer work blink at half the rate of normal.

Optimizing Eyewear

For patients who are glued to the screen for hours at a time, or those who are feeling the fatigue of prolonged computer use, eyewear designed to optimize comfort for near point is recommended. This may include anti-reflective coating, Blue blockers, prism, and/or additional reading power.